Tipper vehicles

ABSTRACT

A tipper vehicle comprises a trailer body pivotally linked to a sub-frame in such a manner that as the trailer body is moved from its transport to its tipped position, the wheelbase of the vehicle contracts.

United States Patent 119] Jackson Sept. 3, 1974 1 TIPPER VEHICLES [75]Inventor: Michael Vivian Jackson, Hethersett,

England [73] Assignee: Farmhand (U.K.) Ltd., Norfolk,

England 22 Filed: June 1, 1972 21 Appl. No.: 258,637

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data June 4, 1971 Great Britain18949/71 [52] US. Cl 298/5, 214/501, 298/17.5, 298/20 R, 298/22 D [51]Int. Cl 860p 1/18 [58] Field of Search 298/5, 10, 17.5, 20 R, 298/22 D,22 J, 22 R, 22 AE; 214/501 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTSEdwards .Q. 298/22 D 2,148,798 2/1939 Barrett 298/22 AE 2,332,32610/1943 Lex 298/20 R 2,542,795 2/1951 Clement 298/20 R 3,011,827 12/1961Keller r 298/17.5 3,572,521 3/1971 Grey; 214/501 3,618,801 11/1971Blanchard 214/501 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 691,299 4/1963 ltaly298/22 AE 76,111 7/1953 Denmark 298/20 R 1,238,107 6/1960 France 298/5Primary ExaminerRobert S. Ward, Jr. Assistant ExaminerReinhard J.Eisenzopf Attorney, Agent, or FirmBrisebois & Kruger [5 7] ABSTRACT Atipper vehicle comprises a trailer body pivotally linked to a sub-framein such a manner that as the trailer body is moved from its transport.to its tipped position, the wheelbase of the vehicle contracts.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures TIPPER VEHICLES This invention relates totipper vehicles.

According to the present invention there is provided a tipper vehiclecomprising a trailer body tippable about a first transverse axis, asubframe pivotally connected to the body about a second transverse axisand actuator means connected between the subframe and the body to causetipping and return movement of the body about the first transverse axis,the second transverse axis being so located relative to the first thatin use there is relative approach motion between the end of the subframeremote from the second transverse axis and the first transverse axis asthe body is tipped.

Preferably the subframe is shaped to support the body in its transportposition.

In one embodiment of the invention, the end of the subframe remote fromthe second transverse axis terminates in a drawbar.

Conveniently the first transverse axis is provided by a wheelsetsupporting the trailer body. The first transverse axis may, for example,be constituted'by the axis of rotation of a pair of wheels relative tothe trailer body. I

Stability of the body in the transport position is en-v hanced if theextent of return movement is such as to bring the centre of gravity ofthe body, loaded or unloaded, through a top'dead centre position.

The invention will now be described with reference to one specificembodiment which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a tipper trailer according to the presentinvention, in its transport position, and

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the trailer of FIG. 1 in its tippedposition. I

' The trailer illustrated in the drawings consists of a trailer body 1mounted by trunnions 2 on wheels 3, a subframe 4 and a double-actinghydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement 5. The subframe 4 consists oftwo triangular frames 4', one disposed onveither side of the vehicle,and each consisting of a, main member 6 and a body-supportingsuperstructure 7 The subframe is pivotally secured to brackets8 on thebody 1, about a transverse pivot axis. Hydraulic rams 9 are connectedbetween the forward ends of the main members 6 and brackets 10 on thetrunnions 2. The forward end on the subframe is constructed with anintegral towbar 11.

- It will be noted'from FIG. 1 that in the transport position the systemis stable without requiring the hydraulic piston and cylinderarrangement 5 to be pressurised, since the towbar 11 is presumed tobeheld by a tractor towing point at aconstant level, and the subframecarries the forward end of the body without any tendency. to pivot.

To cause tipping of the vehicle, the arrangement 5 is .pressurised toshorten its overall length. Presuming for the moment that the rearwheels 3 move while the towing point remains stationary, the effect isto draw the rear wheels forwards and to cause the trunnions 2 to rotateclockwise about the wheel axle, the line of the arrangement 5 being .setbelow the centre line of the wheel axle. The contraction of thearrangement 5 continues until the position of FIG; 2 is reached, withthe body 1 in its fully tipped position and with the wheels 3 at theirclosest point of approach to the towbar 11. The illustrated embodimentis drawn to scale, and the 2 closed length of the'ram is 7 feet. Thedistance moved by the wheels towards the towing point is some 5 feet.

Return movement of the body 1 is effected by pressurising the hydraulicpiston and cylinder arrangement to increase its length. Guides 12 areprovided to ensure accurate location of the body 1. It will be notedthat the centre of gravity of the trailer body 1, with or without itsload L, passes through a top dead centre position during the tipping andreturn movements. This ensures stability in both the transport and thefully tipped positions.

The embodiment described above is used for the bulk movement of bales ofstraw, and for this purpose the rear end 1 of the trailer is in the formof a fork which can be inserted at the base of a stack of bales when thebody 1 is in its tipped condition as shown in FIG. 2. The advantage ofthe described embodiment is that the shortening of the trailer enablesthe driver of the towing vehicle to obtain a clearer view of the rear ofthe trailer, thus permitting more accurate operation in picking upand'settingdown bales. Nevertheless, the trailer is of full length fortransport, and thus provides ample stability during towing.

Since the superstructure 7 of the subframe is designed only to supportthe body in the transport position, and its geometry does not effect thetipping operation, it is possible to set the inclination of the body inthe transport position by choosing the appropriate height for thesuperstructure.

Although the embodiment illustrated in the drawings isa trailer, it isconsidered equally possible to apply the invention to a self-propelledvehicle, in which case the member 11 would be connected to a drivingcab.

Another possible modification is to replace the single-axis suspensionof the vehicle by a tandem arrangement, tipping in this instance takingplace for example about the axles of the rear wheels of the set, with orwithout pivoting movement of the wheelset frame relative to the body.

The degree of contraction of the length of the vehicle depends upon thehorizontal component of movementv of the second transverse axis relativeto the tipping axis,

and also on 'the difference between the inclinations of a line joiningthe second transverse axis and the hitch point in the transport andtipped positions of the vehicle. The total angular range of movement ofthe second transverse axis will be determined by the attitude of thebody in the transport position and the geometrical layout of the linkagewill be chosen to give the desired contraction utilising this range. Inpractical terms the changes in inclination of the hitch point mustobviously be kept within limits compatible with the coupling to which itis attached, and the action of the hydraulic ram must be accommodated ina triangular arrangement of pivots, which should be so proportioned thatthe maximum ram stroke is utilized to move the parts of the vehiclebetween the transport and tipped positions. However, in putting theinvention into practice, the precise layout 'of the linkage may bevaried in particular circumstances to enable a desired contraction oflength when using a given hydraulic or other actuator.

I claim:

1. In an improved tipper vehicle of the bale-wagon type comprising atrailer. body which tips about a frist transverse axis between atransport position in which the base of said body lies at an angleto thehorizontal and a tipped position in which the base of the body lies in avertical plane, and actuator means connected to cause tipping and returnmovement of the body between its two positions, the improvementaccording to which said body is supported by a rigid sub-framepositioned therebeneath when said body is in said transport position,said sub-frame being pivotally connected to the body about a secondtransverse axis, said actuator means is directly connected between saidbody and said sub-frame, and the-relative positions of said transverseaxes and the points of connection of said actuator first transverse axisis constituted by the axis of rotation means are so determined that whensaid actuator acts of a pair of wheels relative to said trailer body.

4. A tipper vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the centre of gravityof said trailer body, whether loaded or not, passes through a top deadcentre position during said tipping and return movement.

5. A tipper vehicle according to claim 1 wherein that end of saidsubframe which is remote from said second transverse axis terminates ina drawbar.

6. A tipper vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said actuator ishydraulically powered.

7. A tipper vehicle according toclaim 6 wherein said actuator meansis-double acting.

1. In an improved tipper vehicle of the bale-wagon type comprising atrailer body which tips about a frist transverse axis between atransport position in which the base of said body lies at an angle tothe horizontal and a tipped position in which the base of the body liesin a vertical plane, and actuator means connected to cause tipping andreturn movement of the body between its two positions, the improvementaccording to which said body is supported by a rigid sub-framepositioned thErebeneath when said body is in said transport position,said sub-frame being pivotally connected to the body about a secondtransverse axis, said actuator means is directly connected between saidbody and said sub-frame, and the relative positions of said transverseaxes and the points of connection of said actuator means are sodetermined that when said actuator acts to tip the body about said firsttransverse axis from said transport position to said tipped position a.said second transverse axis moves in a circular arc about said firsttransverse axis, which are subtends at said first transverse axis anangle complementary to the forward and upward inclination of said baseof said body relative to the horizontal in said transport position, andb. there is relative approach movement between said first transverseaxis and the end of said sub-frame remote from said second transverseaxis.
 2. A tipper vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said firsttransverse axis is provided by a wheelset supporting said trailer body.3. A trailer vehicle according to claim 2 wherein said first transverseaxis is constituted by the axis of rotation of a pair of wheels relativeto said trailer body.
 4. A tipper vehicle according to claim 1 whereinthe centre of gravity of said trailer body, whether loaded or not,passes through a top dead centre position during said tipping and returnmovement.
 5. A tipper vehicle according to claim 1 wherein that end ofsaid subframe which is remote from said second transverse axisterminates in a drawbar.
 6. A tipper vehicle according to claim 1wherein said actuator is hydraulically powered.
 7. A tipper vehicleaccording to claim 6 wherein said actuator means is double acting.